Moving in 6 months? Next year? In 5 Years? Start getting ready now!
Because retirement is getting closer for a lot of Boomers, I’ve had the opportunity to help a lot of them downsize recently – whether its to smaller quarters, or if older Boomers, to apartment retirement communities. And if there’s one thing they all have in common, it’s that every single one of them wished they had started the downsizing process sooner.
Many of those recently retired or approaching retirement have been thinking of moving from the house they raised their family in for a while. Who needs all that space, right? Unfortunately, the recurring theme is that they haven’t been doing much about it. Then the right situation comes up, a decision to move is made and BAM – you’ve got to deal with 25+ years of stuff in short order.
The first thing you’ll realize is that shockingly enough, none of your kids want your stuff. They don’t want the antique furniture you inherited from your folks, they don’t want your – or your mother-in-law’s – china (service for 12 of course, complete with every serving dish imaginable), they don’t want the plate collection you ordered from the Franklin Mint. They don’t even want all those trophies you saved or that adorable artwork from elementary school you’ve been holding onto. Unbelievable, right?!?
Worse yet, neither does anyone else! Because we’re all getting older and downsizing, the secondary furniture market is saturated, so don’t think you’re going to make the down payment on your new place by selling it. Even some of the charities are getting picky about what they’ll accept. The nerve of them.
If a move is on your horizon – even a distant one – the best advice I can give you is to start culling through your stuff early. Because everything has a memory attached to it, downsizing can take time and be quite emotional. Add to that the realities of a move – perhaps when you can no longer be described as a “spring chicken” – and the entire process can be overwhelmingly stressful. I know – I witness it every day.
Why do that to yourself?? Whether it’s a closet a weekend or a room a month – start early. You will be so glad you did. And if you need someone to help you get started, don’t hesitate to reach out at Lynne@LynneKelleher.com or 215-813-6655. I’d love to meet you!